Wild Card

Wild Card, designed by Steve Kordek with art by Christian Marche, was released in June 1977 by Williams Electronics. It holds a notable place in pinball history as the last single-player electro-mechanical (EM) game the company produced before EM designs gave way to solid-state technology. Its American West, cards-and-gambling theme is brought to life through Marche's artwork and a simple sound package of three chimes.

Gameplay-wise, Wild Card boasts two flippers, two pop bumpers, two slingshots, and three standup targets, providing players with a variety of ways to interact with the game. The inclusion of a spinning target and an upper-right kicker lane adds complexity and challenge, while the end-of-ball bonus rewards strategic play. Two kick-out holes help maintain gameplay momentum.

Williams built only 901 units of Wild Card, and the game could be configured for standard replay, add-a-ball, or novelty play. As one of the last EM machines from a manufacturer that would soon fully commit to solid-state electronics, Wild Card offers an interesting look at the twilight of the electromechanical era.